Recognize wireworms and fight them biologically

If your freshly harvested potatoes are criss-crossed by dark aisles, wireworms could be the culprit. What kind of animals are they? How do you look? How do you get rid of them?

Detect wireworm

Typical features of the wireworm are:

• two to three centimeters in length
• yellow to orange-brown body color
• dark brown head

A so-called potato trap helps to make wireworms visible on a bed. This is how you can easily build yourself:

1. Cut some potatoes into thick slices.
2. Stick the potato slices into the ground about two inches.
3. The day after next you can see whether the potato slices have dark aisles or are free of the voracious larvae.

Note: If you find wireworm infestation, move the potato bed to a different location.

Fight wireworms biologically

There are various means available to combat the click beetle larvae naturally. We have listed the most promising ones below.

Potato trap

The potato trap not only helps with recognition, it is also a suitable means of biological control of the pests. It occurs not only on potato-growing areas, but on all of them Vegetable patches for use. Just proceed as described above and then collect the potato slices including the click beetle larvae regularly.

Tip: The potatoes filled with wireworms make a feast for the birds in your garden. Lay out the discs so that the birds can easily see them.

Dig up the earth

Digging up an area will help get rid of click beetle larvae. Proceed according to the following instructions:

1. Dig up the bed on a dry, sunny day.
2. The wireworms get to the surface. There you can easily recognize and collect them.
3. Since the pests are on the menu of many animals, place them so that they are clearly visible for predators such as animals. B. Hedgehog, frog or bird.

Insert nematodes

Nematodes are important helpers in the biological control of various types of pests. This is how the small roundworms help against wireworms:

• to buy in specialist shops
• Pour into watering water according to the instructions for use
• water infested areas with it
• so get into the ground
• invade wireworms
• lay eggs in their bodies
• The result is death of the pests within a few days
• Repeat the application until no more wireworms are visible

Note: Click beetle larvae also get into flower pots via the potting soil, where they wreak havoc. Watering with nematodes quickly leads to success here too.

Garden design close to nature

In gardens in which Hedgehog, Birds and many beneficial insects feel good, click beetle larvae have no chance of survival. They are eaten faster than they can cause damage.

Intelligent mixed culture

For decades, vegetable farmers have been looking for suitable solutions to combat wireworms without chemicals. One way to drive the pests away in a sustainable manner is that Mixed culture. Tagetes or marigolds (Calendula officinalis), for example, are a suitable means of repelling pests. Plant a few of the bright orange flowers between the vegetable patches.

Prefer plants

The stronger the potato and vegetable plants are, the less they are threatened by pests. Pulling them forward on the windowsill increases the stability and resistance of the plants.

Note: Lawns are particularly at risk of wireworm infestation. If you are planning to convert a lawn into a vegetable patch, remove the sward thoroughly. Dig up the area well and leave it fallow for two years if possible. Check the area regularly for larvae.

frequently asked Questions